HONG KONG - Local dignitaries have urged Hong Kong students to cherish the opportunities of education and stay away from planned class boycotts.

The appeals were made in response to a campaign to boycott classes scheduled to begin Monday, the first day of the new semester. The organizers hope to rally students to take the protest against the now-shelved extradition bill beyond summer vacation.

Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, former director-general of the World Health Organization, hoped young students would not boycott classes or take part in any form of violent demonstrations.

Students should cherish the opportunity to study and better prepare themselves for the future, said Chan.

Lam Suk-yee, former president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, hoped students would be able to go to school safely and employees to their places of work. By doing so, they would be taking real action to help reject violence and restore stability to Hong Kong, said Lam.

Yu Kwok-chun, a standing committee member of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, said he was saddened to see how young students were deluded and exploited by some politicians in recent months during the protests.

Knowledge is real power, Yu said. Students should spend time studying hard and gaining knowledge, and fulfilling their career dreams through self-reliance and hard work, he said.